New approach in dealing with the city’s lost doggy souls
Colombo’s crackdown on stray dogs has sparked much controversy and public outrage, yet at the same time it has drawn its support from those who say there is ‘no other option’ for the stray dog population, in the city. Things aren’t always black and white, says a group of youngsters who have made it a personal mission to take on responsibility for these lost doggy souls. As part of team Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka (ADSL), they’ve so far rescued over 400 canines from sure death and made a very small, but noticeable dent in tackling Colombo’s stray dog plight.
It’s a road less travelled and an approach that has raised a few eyebrows. After all, the team is made up of just 15 young professionals and students and a faithful base of volunteers. But they persevere, confident in the belief that this is the solution to a problem that has received much exposure in the public eye. “There is always a solution that’s beneficial to both groups involved,” says Hasini Silva, a member of the team. “If you don’t want the street dog population growing, sterilize them. Vaccinate these animals for rabies. Sure, it’s not a shortcut and will certainly take time, money and effort, but I’d say these animals deserve it.”
We call them our best friends, yet we’re happy to throw them out when they are old or when a new brood is born. There is no one to blame for this problem than ourselves, stress the young activists. Stepping up and accept responsibility is what these young people certainly have, sacrificing precious time and money to rescue and find homes for these animals.
Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka was formed by three friends with a mutual love for dogs. Oshadhi, Andrew and Meghali used Facebook as a platform to find homes for the canines they rescued from the road. This effort was eventually concentrated into one single platform with the launch of the Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka page on Facebook, which the group still uses as a tool to find homes for their rescued dogs. Team members like Hasini and Iraki Kodithuwakku joined after seeking help from ADSL for their own rescues. Impressed with the group’s quick response and clear affection for the animals they helped, they volunteered to be part of the core ADSL team.
There are 15 members in the team as of now, says Iraki, adding that their cause would’ve been impossible to carry out without the faithful commitment of their volunteers, spread all over the city and outstation areas. An ADSL member will receive a phone call about a dog that needs rescuing from harsh conditions or an accident, and then they will use their database to find a volunteer who lives close-by to rescue the dog and bring it home with them. Depending on the condition of the dog, they will ask their volunteers to take them to a local vet ( ADSL has also built up a network of veterinarians they can turn to for help) and send photographs along with other details. After that it’s a matter of posting pictures and details on Facebook and wait for potential adopters to beat down the door to give these dogs a home.
“The response we’ve had is absolutely amazing,” smiles Hasini. “People are so kind hearted and caring-we’ve been lucky enough to give all the dogs we’ve rescued so far a good home.” It’s not so easy to get to these adorable canines, mind. The team safeguards their rescued dogs like protective mother hens, screening potential ‘parents’ before approving their offers. “There are several factors that come into play, and it’s important to us that these dogs get a good home. It makes it difficult for us sometimes to find an owner this way, but we always stick to our conditions.”
The team has also partnered with Nihal De Silva to assist him with his famous feeding programme for stray dogs. Mr. De Silva feeds about 130 stray dogs every day with his own funds, and ADSL has joined him in an effort to relieve his financial burden and create more awareness about it.
In addition to this, ADSL also carries out a sterilization (taking away the dog’s reproductive ability, therefore ensuring they don’t give birth to more dogs that will end up in the same situation) programme in Kataragama every three months, where they sterilize about 100-200 stray dogs and even domestic canines every session. Once they feel they’ve made a big enough impact in Kataragama, they hope to move into other outstation areas. It’s a long and often difficult process, but the team is enthusiastic about eventually overcoming the sad plight Sri Lanka’s stray dog population faces.
You might not change the world by coming to the rescue of one stray dog, but surely you’ll change the world for that animal. It’s an ideology these young change-makers live and breathe every day. Join them in their cause by donating, adopting or simply volunteering to help. You can be of any age or profession-all you need to have is a heart. Find ‘Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka’ on Facebook for more details or drop them an email at adoptadoginsrilanka@gmail.com
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